A red flag that suggests a candidate is an enemy of democracy is a declaration that if they lose an election, that proves the election was rigged. That is what dictators say to retain power even when they lose. Trump borrowed this autocratic political scam from autocrats and dictators from foreign countries. Their scam includes predicting fraud will occur, declaring fraud if they lose, and refusing to concede and accept the vote of the people. The deception of the scam is obvious for two main reasons; 1) They never have evidence to prove their claims of fraud, and 2) they never claim fraud if they win. Kari Lake has refused to say she will concede if she loses. She is a cry baby, whiner, sore loser, anti- patriotic, conspiracy theorist danger to democracy and an embarrassment to real Republucans and women.
These Arizona candidates are alt-right extremists. They support the ” big lie”, oppose women’s reproductive freedom, are white nationalist, pro- dark money and pro- autocracy. Their version of democracy is Trump’s version; refer to America as a “democracy” but govern as an autocracy in the image of Russia.
Some Republican officials have condemned the violence but refuse to acknowledge the politically motivated attack. To admit politics was involved would be an admission that the political rhetoric of Trump is responsible for the current climate of violence in politics. Republicans have also blamed democrats for the attack by blaming President Biden for Americas’s problem with crime. They have ignored that the attacker aligned himself with MAGA conspiracy theories, Q’ANON ideology, and the obsession with committing violent acts against Nancy Pelosi. The demonizing of democrats by republicans has resulted in the normalization of political violence. The GOP uses scare tactics to convince white Christian Americans that democrats and people of color are trying to “replace them.” This lie about “a replacement theory” has created irrational fears in the republican base permitting MAGA voters to use violence against political opponents they are convinced are evil.
Paul Pelosi will not be the last casualty of the current political war unless the violent, racist rhetoric tops. Will it take a prominent republican or member of their family getting attacked for the anger politics to stop?
